Pippi Longstocking's Horse

"Pippi-horse"

The other day I saw one of those horses we in Scandinavia call a Pippi Langstrømpe-hest. Pippi had this white horse with a lot of spots and she was able to lift it one-handed.  The books about Pippi are loved by every child in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.

I guess that most of you know Pippi (Peppi) Longstocking. Astrid Lindgrens books are translated into 64 languages. 

Astrid Lindgren's first three Pippi-books were published from 1945-48. Pippi was named by Astrid Lindgren's then nine-year-old daughter Karin. Pippi is unconventional and has superhuman strenght, she is able to lift her horse, she mocks and and dupes adults, but she reserves her worst behaviour for her most pompous and condescending of adults. Her anger is reserved for the most extreme cases, such as when a man ill-treats her horse, Like Peter Pan Pippi does not want to grow up.

Pippi claims her full name is Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Ephraim's Daughter Longstocking (Swedish: Pippilotta Viktualia Rullgardina Krusmynta Efraimsdotter Långstrump). Her fiery red hair is worn in pigtails, so tightly wound that they stick out sideways from her head.
Pippi lives in a small Swedish village, in an exciting house Villa Villekulla with her monkey hr. Nilsson and her horse, but no adults or relatives. She's got two friends Tommy and Annika, two children who live next door. Pippi's two main possessions are a suitcase full of gold coins (which she used to buy her horse) and a large chest of drawers containing various small treasures.
Pippi is the daughter of seafarer Ephraim Longstocking, captain of the sailing ship  Hoptoad (Hoppetossa in Swedish), from whom Pippi inherited her common sense and incredible strength. Captain Longstocking is the only person known who can match Pippi in physical ability. He originally bought Villa Villekulla to give his daughter a more stable home life than that onboard the ship, although Pippi loves the seafaring life and is a better sailor and helmsman than most of her father's crew.

Villa Villekulla

The story goes on and on with Pippi  and Tommy and Annnika, and Astrid Lindgren is one of the most loved authors of children books. She is the world's 18th most translated author and has sold roughly 145 million copies worldwide.The best-known books by Astrid Lindgren: The Pippi Longstocking series, Karlsson-on-the roof-series, Emil of Lönneberga, The Bill Bergson series, Madicken, Ronia the Robber's Daughter, Seacrow Island, The Six Bullerby Children, Mio, my Mio, The Brothers Lionheart.(some of the books are on film and TV).

Astrid Lindgreen died in 2002, 94 years of age.